Mild form of avian flu found in New Jersey

Authorities have discovered a mild form of
avian influenza at a live bird market in New Jersey, USA, but it is not the
deadly H5N1 strain governments around the world are trying to contain, the
state's agriculture department said.

"The strain was found in a live bird market in Camden
County. None of the birds in the market died from this virus, which is an
indicator that the virus was low pathogenic and not harmful to humans," said a
statement by New Jersey's Agriculture Secretary Charles
Kuperus.

Kuperus said preliminary tests from the National Veterinary
Services laboratory were negative for type N1 of the virus. More tests are
pending at laboratories of the US Agriculture Department in Ames, Iowa, to
confirm the strain of the virus, he added.

"The market owner voluntarily depopulated his existing flock, and the
market has undergone cleaning and disinfecting under New Jersey Department of
Agriculture supervision," said Kuperus.